The Valley of the Kings – Luxor , Egypt

Visitors to the valley come to view the remarkable pyramids and visit the extraordinary Sphinx. The Great Pyramids are located here. To date there are more than 62 tombs in this area alone. Perhaps the most famous of them all is the tomb of King Tutankhamen, which was discovered in 1922. Other notables buried in the Valley of the Kings include: Amenhotep, Ramses II, III and IV, Hatshepsut, Seti, and Merenptah. In the Valley of the Queens nearby the notables include: Tanedjmet, Iset, Nefertiti, Tentopet, Mut Tuy, and Ahmose.

flickr image by reibai

This area is one that has had major exploration undertaken and is central to many changes that have occurred in ancient Egyptian history. Many antiquities have been found here and the preservation and restoration of these antiquities brings a great many tourists to the area. Large numbers of visitors come to view the aforementioned Sphinx, the Great Pyramids and other archaeological sites that populate the Valley of the Kings.

flickr image by gloria_euyoque

However, many tombs are closed to the public due to ongoing excavation and restoration. A great number of the Egyptian antiquities that have resided in other countries are now being returned to Egypt and to their rightful place in both location and history.

To get to the Valley of the Kings, one of the most popular options is to take a guided tour of the Valley of the Kings . You can find such tours run from Luxor , where there is also an international airport. Due to the complex layout and ongoing restorations that are being undertaken it is not recommended that you drive or visit individually. There are not many tombs are open to the public at large. At any one time, only 18 or so are open and not all at the same time. Certain tombs also require an additional entrance fee to visit.